Parasitoid community of the loreyi leaf wormMythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi: Novel host-parasitoid associations and their efficiency in the eastern mediterranean region of Turkey

The loreyi leaf worm,Mythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi Duponchel (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a pest of gramineous crops and causes significant economic damage to maize. In field surveys on maize to determine the parasitoid community and its impact on the pest in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey, nine parasitoid species were found associated with immature stages ofM. loreyi: The hymenopteran (Braconidae and Ichneumonidae) parasitoidsCotesia (=Apanteles) ruficrus (Haliday),Chelonus oculator Panzer,Meteorus ictericus Nees,Hyposoter didymator (Thunberg),Sinophorus sp.; and the dipteran (Tachinidae) parasitoidsPseudogonia rufifrons Wiedeman,Exorista rossica Mesnil,Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy) andLinnaemya vulpina (Fallen) — the last three recorded for the first time as parasitoids ofM. loreyi in Turkey.C. ruficrus was the dominant parasitoid species, being recovered from 38.5% of the larvae collected and was also the most prevalent species, existing in 91.0% of the fields in whichM. loreyi was found. Total parasitism levels achieved by braconid species was 41.4%, by ichneumonid parasitoids 4.8%, and by tachinid parasitoids 1.9%. In a separate field experiment, seasonal population fluctuations and natural efficiency ofC. ruficrus onM. loreyi were found to be 35.1% and 42.4%, respectively. Population levels ofC. ruficrus were closely related to fluctuations in the population ofM. loreyi, with parasitism ranging between 0 and 77.3% during the study. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Aug. 28, 2005.     

Comparison of pregnancy per AI of heifers inseminated with sex-sorted or conventional semen after oestrus detection or timed artificial insemination

The objective of the study was to compare the fertility after using sex-sorted or conventional semen either with oestrus detection (EST) or timed artificial insemination (TAI) in Holstein heifers. Holstein heifers were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Heifers in the EST group were inseminated with sex-sorted (n = 114) or conventional semen (n = 100) after spontaneous or induced oestrus. Heifers in the TAI, subjected to the 5-day Cosynch+Progesterone protocol (GnRH+P4 insertion-5d-PGF_2α+P4 removal-1d-PGF_2α-2d-GnRH+TAI), were inseminated with sex-sorted (n = 113) or conventional semen (n = 88). Statistical analyses were performed using PROC GLIMMIX procedure of SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Overall P/AI was 60.7% for EST and 54.2% for TAI regardless of types of semen and 68.1% for conventional and 48.9% for sex-sorted semen regardless of insemination strategies. Fertility of heifers inseminated with either sex-sorted (53.5%; 44.2%) or conventional (69.0%; 67.0%) semen did not differ between EST and TAI respectively. Besides, the interaction between the semen type and the insemination strategy was not significant for P/AI. The embryonic loss was significantly greater with sex-sorted semen (17.1%) compared to conventional semen (1.6%). There was no sire effect with sex-sorted semen on P/AI (52.6% vs. 46.2%) and embryonic loss (16.4% vs. 18.0%). As expected, sex-sorted semen resulted in more female calves (89.8% vs. 51.6%) than conventional semen. Thus, sex-sorted semen can be used with 5-day Cosynch+Progesterone protocol to eliminate the inadequate oestrus detection and to increase female calves born in dairy heifers.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve the growth and phosphorus uptake of mung bean plants fertilized with composted rock phosphate fed dung in alkaline soil environment

Abstract

Inoculation effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on phosphorus (P) transfer from composted dung of cattle with a diet supplemented with powdered rock phosphate (RP) and their successive uptake by mung bean plants was assessed in alkaline soil. The efficacy of composted RP fed dung alone or/and in combination with AMF inoculums containing six different species were compared with SSP in six replicates per treatment in pots. The results showed that the association of AMF with composted RP fed dung had a positive effect on mung bean shoot (3.04?g) and root (2.62?g) biomass, chlorophyll (a, b), carotenoid contents and N (58.38?mg plant^?1) and P (4.61?mg plant^?1) uptake. Similarly, the percent roots colonization (56%) and nodulation of mung bean plant roots and their post-harvest soil properties were also improved by the inoculation of AMF together with composted RP fed dung. It is concluded that the combined application of AMF with composted RP fed dung has almost the same effect as SSP for improving mung bean plants growth and their nutrients uptake. Moreover, AMF inoculants can be used as a suitable biofertilizer in combination with locally available organic sources of fertilizers for improving P status and growth of plants in alkaline soils.     

Use of Diet Crossover to Determine the Effects of β‐glucan Supplementation on Immunity and Growth of Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Juvenile Nile tilapia were fed either a basal (control) diet (n = 6 aquaria) or a diet supplemented with 1 g/kg β‐glucan (n = 24 aquaria) for 4 wk. At the end of this period, fish receiving β‐glucan were continued on the same diet (n = 12 aquaria) or switched to the control diet (n = 12 aquaria) for 2 wk. After 6 wk, tilapia continuously fed the β‐glucan supplemented diets had improved weight gain and feed efficiency than those fed the control diet uninterrupted or switched from the β‐glucan diet to the control after 4 wk. Feeding tilapia β‐glucan for 4 wk and then switching to the basal diet for 2 wk caused a significant increase in the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear lymphocytes (17.77 × 10³ units/1000 white blood cells [WBC]) compared to catfish fed the control diet (13.50 × 10³ units/1000 WBC) or the β‐glucan diet continuously (13.57 × 10³ units/1000 WBC), but other immune parameters were unaffected. Tilapia were then challenged with Streptococcus iniae. The two groups were divided again (n = 6 aquaria) postchallenge and continued on the same diet or switched to the other diet (β‐glucan or control) for another 3 wk. No differences in survival to S. iniae infection occurred between dietary groups.     

CASE REPORT: Corneal papilloma associated with papillomavirus in a one‐humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

A 15‐year‐old male dromedary camel with a history of chronic severe keratoconjunctivitis and corneal mass in the left eye of 6 months’ duration was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Adnan Menderes University. A superficial keratectomy was performed and biopsy material submitted for histopathology. The diagnosis was corneal papilloma. There has been no recurrence of the neoplasm to date (6 months, 1 year). Corneal papilloma has not been reported previously in camels and seems to be associated with papillomavirus.     

The pyrethrins and related compounds. Part XXXIV. Optimisation of insecticidal activity in non-esters

Optimisation of activity within the structural constraints defined by the preceding work, by varying the substituents on phenyl in the acid fragment (10 variations), the nature of the group fulfilling the dimethyl function (three variations), the central linking group (four variations) and the presence or absence of a 4-fluoro substituent in the alcohol fragment, has led to achiral compounds as active as bioresmethrin against houseflies and mustard beetles. Statistical analysis of the effects has shown that particular combinations, for instance the cyclopropyl form of dimethyl with a central E-alkene group (but not a central ether group), lead to higher activity than expected. 4-Fluoro substitution enhances activity more strongly against mustard beetles. Difluorocyclopropyl compounds are on average slightly more active than cyclopropyl analogues.     

Effects of probiotics: alone and in a mixture of Biosacc plus Zinc Bacitracin on the caecal microflora of Japanese quail

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two commercially available probiotics, alone and in combination with an antibiotic, on the caecal flora of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reared under unstressed conditions. Thirty-four 90-day-old Japanese quail were selected for this study. The birds were divided into four groups, two groups of nine birds and two groups of eight birds. The animals in these groups were given feed containing 0.5 kg per tonne of probiotics alone (Protexin or Biosacc), a mixture of probiotic plus antibiotic (Biosacc plus Zinc Bacitracin at 0.5 and 0.0525 ppm, respectively), and a group where no supplement was added to be used as controls. The total count of aerobic bacteria, lactobacilli, enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, enteroccoci, salmonellae, sulphite-reducing anaerobic bacteria (clostridia), and pH values in the caecal content of the birds were examined. No significant differences were detected among the four groups for pH values and bacterial number (p>0.05), except for sulphite-reducing anaerobic bacteria (p<0.001). These results suggest that the use of probiotics alone and/or a mixture of a probiotic plus antibiotic as a feed supplement does not have a major suppressing effect on the majority of bacterial groups in the caecal flora of mature, healthy Japanese quail reared in unstressed conditions.     

Control of tsetse flies and trypanosomes using molecular genetics

TSETSE FLIES (DIPTERA: Glossinidae) are important agricultural and medical vectors transmitting the African trypanosomes, the agents of sleeping sickness disease in humans and various diseases in animals (nagana). While the prevalence of disease has increased to epidemic proportions, lack of a mammalian vaccine and affordable and effective drugs have hindered disease control. Trypanosomiasis management relies heavily on the control of its single insect vector, the tsetse fly. Despite the effectiveness of some of these tools, their impact on disease control has not been sustainable due to their local nature and extensive dependence on community participation. Recent advances in molecular technologies and their application to insects have revolutionized the field of vector biology, and there is hope that such new approaches may form the basis for future tsetse interventions. The success of the genetic approaches aiming to disrupt the transmission cycle of the parasite in their invertebrate host depends on full understanding of the interaction between tsetse and trypanosomes. This article reviews the biology of trypanosome development in the fly and the multiple bacterial symbionts that inhabit the same gut environment. The availability of a genetic transformation system for the midgut symbiont allows for gene products to be expressed in vivo in the tsetse gut where they can produce a hostile environment for pathogen transmission. The characterization of gene product(s) with anti-pathogenic properties and their expression in vivo is discussed. A strategy is outlined where the replacement of susceptible insect phenotypes with their engineered refractory counterparts can result in decreased disease transmission.     

Arterial vascularization of the pineal gland in the fetus of Zavot-bred cattle

This study aimed at revealing arterial vascularization of the pineal gland of the Zavot-bred foetus. Twenty foetuses, regardless of their sex, at the age of 2-7 months were used. Coloured-latex was injected by way of both the right and left common carotid arteries. Then, dissection was performed and vessels nourishing the pineal gland were documented. The pineal gland is vascularized by a number of 2-5 central rami. A small vessel arising from each of the central rami in two foetuses (10%) was shown anastomosing with a branch of the cranial cerebral artery, which advances in cranio-caudal direction in the callosal groove. Hence, anastomoses were observed between several sub-branches of each caudal cerebral and cranial cerebellar arteries.     

Effect of seasonal conditions on oestrus occurrence and postpartum period in Anatolian water buffaloes

Oestrus and calving records of Anatolian buffaloes were analyzed to investigate influence of climatic conditions on oestrus occurrence and postpartum period. Oestrus records showed a seasonal pattern concentrated between July and September which is the warmest period of the year. Likewise, more than half (52.7%) of the total calvings occurred between May and August. Month of calving significantly influenced the length of calving to first oestrus interval and open period (P < 0.01). The average length of open period was significantly shorter in autumn and summer calvers compared to those calved in spring and winter (P < 0.05) during long days. The humidity rate was negatively correlated with both calving to first oestrus interval and open period (P < 0.05). In conclusion, exposure to high environmental temperatures around 20 degrees C exerted no suppressive influence on ovarian activity in Anatolian buffaloes. Although humidity rate (P < 0.05) and ambient temperature (P < 0.01) was found to be correlated with the duration of postpartum period, day length might be the main factor regulating reproductive biorhythm and postpartum events in Anatolian buffalo cows.